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Published on: September 5, 2018
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Submarine canyon development controlled by slope failure and oceanographic process interactions.
Dicky Harishidayat1, Yakufu Niyazi2, Heather A Stewart3,4
1Department of Geosciences, College of Petroleum Engineering and Geosciences, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, 31261, Dhahran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. dickyharishidayat@gmail.com.
Scientific Reports
|August 9, 2024
Summary
Submarine canyons in the southeastern Australian margin were initiated by slope failure and shaped by the Zeehan Current. Their evolution involved erosion and deposition, offering insights into similar global geological features.
Area of Science:
- Geology
- Oceanography
- Marine Geosciences
Background:
- Submarine canyons on the southeastern Australian margin are poorly understood regarding their morphology, evolution, and interaction with currents.
- Previous studies focused on the northwestern margin, leaving the southeastern region under-researched.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the origin, morphology, and evolution of submarine canyons in the central offshore Otway Basin.
- To analyze the influence of slope failure and ocean currents on canyon development.
Main Methods:
- Utilized high-resolution bathymetry and 3D seismic reflection datasets.
- Analyzed canyon morphology, sedimentary infill, and stratal patterns.
Main Results:
- Identified five main submarine canyons with V-shaped to U-shaped morphologies and characteristic sedimentary infill.
- Determined that canyons initiated by retrogressive slope failure and were subsequently influenced by the shelf-parallel Zeehan Current.
- Observed northwestward migration of canyon heads and infill patterns indicating an erosional phase followed by deposition.
Conclusions:
- Submarine canyon development is a complex process involving both slope failure and longshore drift currents.
- The findings enhance understanding of submarine canyon formation and evolution in southeastern Australia and globally.
- The study highlights the significant role of the Zeehan Current in shaping canyon morphology and sedimentary infill.
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